Engagement pictures are often treated as a check-in-the-box on the wedding planning checklist.  Please, don’t do this!  Engagement pictures can be so much more fun, and more memorable!

There seems to be a split among the interwebs about whether or not engagement photos are worth it or “gag worthy”. It can be easy to dismiss the idea of engagement shoots are a waste of time or self indulgent, but I promise you engagement sessions can be so much more.

Not everyone is used to being in front of the camera for more than a quick selfie (or four because let’s admit it no one looks good in that first on ;) Having an engagement session lets couples work out those camera nerves and also gives you insight into how your photographer operates.  This even more important if you hire a team of photographers (like us!), since having multiple cameras at different angles can make even the most camera comfortable couples need a minute.

Engagement sessions are more relaxed than the pictures taken on your wedding day.  Wedding days are packed with a huge range of emotions, people and vendors who are all competing for a moment of your limited time. Even if you are the most careful of planners, weddings can fall behind schedule and often it’s the photography time that gets squeezed.  Having an engagement sessions not only gets you comfortable with your photographer, but gives your photographer an understanding of how your relate to each other as a couple.  It helps us build your wedding story visually and lets us quickly plan photos that illustrates your personalities.

More than that, engagement photography can highlight a specific place that has meaning to you as a couple.  Your wedding photos have meaning because they tell the story of your wedding, while engagement pictures tell the story of you. Picking the place you met, your first date, or your favorite city allows you and your photographer to showcase a larger part of your love story without worrying about timing or having other people interrupt. It is a lot more fun and much more relaxed.

If you are camera shy, but you, your partner or you both, really want beautiful wedding photos - don’t skip the engagement shoot.  It will help you get used to both the camera and the photographer. You will be much more comfortable when your wedding rolls around because you will know what to expect.

The most overlooked aspect of engagement photography are destination engagement photos! This is actually a thing and it happens in two ways.  First, before you were engaged you had planned a vacation of some sort.  Take advantage of your travel plans and book a photographer at your destination before you leave. Doing this lets you get some amazing vacation photographs from a local photographer who might take you somewhere you wouldn’t have otherwise visited.  

The second is by booking a little vacation with your photographer.  We did this with a couple who’s favorite city is San Francisco. It is their favorite city and their favorite weekend get away.  We took them around the city for a two day photoshoot and had so much fun.  By the time their wedding came around they were very comfortable in front of the camera and knew exactly what to expect.  They even used one of their engagement photos as a wedding sign in!

Don’t skip the engagement photos.  Use them to conquer your fear of cameras and take them to the next level by planning a special shoot with your photographer.  Skip the local park and find a place that means something to you - even if it’s your own home.